Overactive thyroid.

[Frin9e]

hoping someone can answer this question for me, my son suffers with panic attack, anxiety etc, gp gave antidepressants, he only took them for 4 days, which resulted in vomiting, suicidal thoughts, couldnt keep water down, went back to gp told to stop tablets, had blood tests should overactive thyroid, gp said to be expected, my question is can this happen ? Thank you for taking the time to help. Best wishes 😁

[Hennerton]

I am so sorry for what your son is going through. Could you please obtain the blood test results that show your son is overactive and put them in a new post, as without this info it is impossible for anyone to advise. Nevertheless, if GP is saying that the antidepressants caused an overactive thyroid, I am not convinced he knows what he is talking about. If your son is definitely overactive he needs proper antithyroid medication and not antidepressants.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Frin9e

What did the GP mean by "was to be expected?"

Overactive thyroid as a result of taking the antidepressants?

[Frin9e in reply to SeasideSusie]

im assuming that what she meant, he has to have bloods, done again next month, I've suffered with mental health problems for over 20 years, I believe its been my thyroid all along, I don't want my children to suffer like I have, treating symptoms, not the cause!

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Frin9e]

Frin9e

My personal opinion is I doubt whether 4 days of antidepressants would make anybody's thyroid suddenly become overactive!

You are probably on the right track, I expect it is his thyroid and I think it's very sad that the first thing doctors do is reach for the prescription pad to give anti-depressants rather than looking for other causes. But then again, they appear to get incentives for diagnosing depression and prescribing anti-depressants.

Pop along and get the test results, they only take a couple of days, or depending on his age your son may need to ask for them. Just ask at reception for a print out of the results, don't accept verbal or handwritten ones as mistakes can be made, ensure it's a print out. Then come back and post the results and reference ranges and members will comment.

[Aurealis]

Hi Frin9e, perhaps your GP was suggesting that your sons anxiety and panic attacks are related to his overactive thyroid as these are common symptoms of overactive thyroid. Perhaps your son responded badly to the antidepressants because the doctor, in prescribing them was treating the symptom (depression) rather than the cause (overactive thyroid).

Best wishes, hope your sons health is soon restored x

[shaws Administrator]

I shall give you a list of clinical symptoms and I am very sorry your son is unwell causing you to be anxious too. You must be if you don't know what the cause is.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

(he should also have antibodies tested - which if positive he'd have Hashimoto's and Autoimmune Thyroid Disease).

Many doctors give prescriptions for symptoms instead of getting to the root of the problems.

Depression/anxiety can also be caused if your T3 (liothyronine) is too low.

Your son needs a Full Thyroid Function Test and ask GP - he probably wont do all of them but the ones he or lab wont do, you can get privately.

All blood tests for thyroid hormones have to be at the earliest possible, fasting (you can drink water) and if he was taking thyroid hormones he'd allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose and test and take afterwards. Ask GP for a Full Thyroid Function Test which is:

TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies. B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate.

If GP or lab wont do all you can get those not tested privately and we now have several labs which will do these. Your GP might be willing to do the vitamins/minerals.

Blood draw always at the earliest and fasting (he can drink water).

verywellmind.com/can-antide...

[greygoose]

Panic attacks and anxiety can also be caused by an under-active thyroid. It's really important that you get the blood test results because doctors are often not very good at reading them. Plus, you need to know exactly what was tested.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

For full Thyroid evaluation your son needs TSH, FT4, TT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies and also very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Plus TSI or TRab antibodies for Graves' disease

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.

Private testing for suspected Graves - TSI or TRab antibodies

medichecks.com/thyroid-func...

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...

Link about antibodies and Hashimoto's

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

Hashimoto's can cause anxiety, panic attacks and depression too

Not just Graves

List of hypothyroid symptoms

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

[Frin9e]

I'd like to thank everyone who took the time to reply it means alot. I will ask gp to test for what you have advised fingers crossed.

best wishes 😁

[Katned]

Sounds like underactive thyroid to me. Panic attacks, depression and poor immune function. Before all the lab tests doctors relied on basal temperature to diagnose and treat hypothyroidism. Please read

Solved: the riddle of illness by Stephen Langer. I read it in the 80's when I was diagnosed. It has been constantly updated and explains why the blood tests are poor indicators of thyroid function.

[Frin9e]

thank you i shall have a read.